Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Stale data watch: construction spending for October — more “green shoots”?

– by New Deal democrat Originally housing permits and starts through December were supposed to be updated this morning, but that has now been put off another week. In the meantime, we did get some data, albeit stale, about the important leading sector of construction, in the form of the construction spending report through October. And […]

October employment situation: stagnant hiring, increased firing, continued wage growth

 – by New Deal democrat On a normal first Friday of the month, I would be crunching the official jobs report data to try to provide not just a coincident report on the jobs market, but also to focus on the leading indicators within that report, such as the manufacturing and construction sectors and also […]

As the Improved #ACA Subsidies Expire, what will Rhode Island Citizens Pay?

Charles has taken on the task of telling people or warning people about the increasing ACA payments will be if the subsidies drop to 400% FPL from the present 600% FPL. If you remember former President Biden increased the subsidies allowing for people to maintain healthcare during the time when companies were furloughing employees during […]

Repeat home sales show continued deflation (Case Shiller) vs. stabilization (FHFA) (update with current graphs)

 – by New Deal democrat Despite the government shutdown, the FHFA did publish its repeat home sales index this morning. And since the S&P Case Shiller index is from a private entity, that was published as well. Between those two and the NAR’s existing home sales report, we still have pretty good visibility into that 90% […]

Tabulated state initial and continuing claims continue neutral trend indicating weak expansion

 – by New Deal democrat As I have done since the beginning of the government shutdown, the number of initial and continuing claims can be calculated notwithstanding, because it is based on reporting by the States, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Then by applying the same adjustment as was used for the […]

Redbook, Philly Fed: a whiff of consumer weakening?

 – by New Deal democrat The government shutdown is continuing. The only significant national economic news will be the NAR’s existing home sales report on Thursday. Additionally, the remaining regional Fed surveys will come at the end of this week or next week. And, as I am still on vacation, don’t be surprised if I play […]

Initial claims lower than one year ago

“Initial claims lower than one year ago, an important positive point for the economy”  – by New Deal democrat As per my introduction the past several weeks, despite the government shutdown we can recreate the initial and continuing claims data, because it is based on reporting by the States, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the […]

The U.S.-Born labor force will shrink over the next decade

“Immigration, Population, Replacement, Politics and the Economy,” Angry Bear. Immigration, Population Replacement, Politics, and the Economy are what comes together to ensure national growth. In 2006 the rate of population growth was 1 percent. Since then and in 2021, it has decreased to 4 tenths of 1%. With the present administration removing legal and illegal immigrants, […]

Millions of People Have Been Unfairly Declared as Dead Beats

The result of the governmental cuts to employees in the Department of Education has resulted in many students having loans unable to contact the department in a timely basis. The action of the DE is to place them in a delinquent status. Few can afford to pay for a college or technical school education. What […]

Significant positive news in the goods producing sector

– by New Deal democrat Under normal circumstances, this would be the morning I would slice and dice the first important consumer data for the month: retail sales. With the government shutdown continuing with no end in sight, all we have are several dart-throws. The Chicago Fed’s final Advanced Retail Trade report for September indicated +0.5% […]